New YorK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 395 
EFFECTS OF LIME ON DIFFERENT PLANTS. 
While no rigid rules can be laid down for general application 
to all conditions, the Rhode Island experiment station has 
found that most of our common crops are benefited by the use 
of lime compounds; some plants appear to be unaffected, while 
a few (watermelon, serradella, blue lupine and sheep-sorrel) 
are injured. The application of quicklime, slaked lime and 
wood-ashes is found to promote potato-scab when applied in 
amount sufficent to remove completely the acidity of the soil. 
Excessive applications of quicklime or of slaked lime may 
cause decreased growth of crops for one season but increased 
growth afterwards. 
HOW TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER A SOIL NEEDS LIME, 
Two methods can be used to ascertain whether a soil needs 
lime (1) The litmus test for acidity, and (2) the growth of 
red clover. The litmus test is performed as follows: Blue Lt- 
mus-paper of the best quality, or, preferably, very sensitive 
neutral litmus-paper, in strips about one-half inch wide and 
two inches long, is used. This can be obtained at drug-stores. 
Put in a cup a tablespoonful or more of soil and moisten with 
water enough to make a thick paste. After letting the soil 
stand a half hour or more, a clean table-knife is inserted to 
part the soil, and one end of the litmus-paper is put into the 
opening thus made, after which the soil is pressed against the 
sides of the paper. In a half hour to an hour after, the paper 
is carefully taken from the soil without tearing. The adhering 
soil is rinsed off the paper. If the original blue color is 
changed to a distinct red or pink, acidity is indicated that 
calls for the use of lime. The end of the litmus-paper that is 
inserted into the soil must not come in contact with the hands 
and the water used must be neutral (neither acid nor alkaline). 
It should be stated that cases appear in which the litmus test 
gives unreliable indications. 
